Maoist leader
held in Garhwa

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Ranchi, July 17: A CPI(Maoist) zonal commander, carrying a Rs 3-lakh reward on his head, was arrested from his Ambakhuria village home in Dhurki of Garhwa today.

Krishna Yadav, alias Badalji, was wanted in around 40 criminal cases pending against him at different police stations of Garhwa and Latehar districts alone. Police are probing his involvement in other Naxalite-related cases lodged in other districts.

According to superintendent of police (SP) S.K. Jha, the police received a tip-off about Yadav’s movement last evening when he had come home. A special team, comprising the police personnel and CRPF jawans, was formed to catch him live.

“Yadav surrendered without resisting much. He was not carrying any firearm,” the SP said.

Jha added that the reward amount would be distributed among the state police and CRPF personnel, who were part the raid that led to this prized catch. “I will also recommend to the state government to reward them suitably,” he added.

Yadav had joined the banned outfit in 2008 and climbed the organisational ladder very fast. In 2009, the district police had attached his property to compel him to surrender, but to no avail. Thereafter, Rs 3 lakh reward was announced on his head.

In November 2011, the Garhwa police recommended that the reward amount be increased, a proposal which is still pending before the state government for approval.

Congratulating his boys on the success, state director-general of police Rajeev Kumar said anti-Naxalite operations were in full swing across the state.